His mind refused to come to full alertness, but he did remember hearing his name.
"Logan," the voice was muffled but yes it was his name. He looked up to see a dark silhouette standing in his room.
"Max?" he wasn't really sure if he actually said it aloud or it was only in his mind, but the shadow moved closer to him in response. Or maybe he just willed it to come closer. His mind was too hazy to be sure.
Slowly his groggy mind began to clear and the silhouette before him became a human form. It looked Max, fully clothed, wearing a red tank top and jeans.. What was she doing here? Logan watched her as she stepped forward again and hesitated. He did not know what to say. The words, any words, did not come to his lips easily. This had to be a dream. Why else would she be in his room so late at night? It wasn't real. His mind refused to believe it was real.
"Max?" he threw the question at the shadow, half of him hoping it would flutter away and not taunt him with its beauty, and the other half of him willing it to come closer still.
Again in response it stepped closer and slowly, quietly made it's way to the side of his bed. He desperately tried to regain full consciousness, but he could do nothing to escape this state of limbo between the abyss of sleep and the reality of the world around him.
"Hold me," her soft voice sounded more urgent as if she needed something only he could give. He would not hesitate to pull the stars down from the heavens for her, but she had never asked it of him.
The cool air raised goose bumps on his skin as she lifted the covers of his bed and slid in beside him. "Don't change," she whispered softly into his ear then lay her head and hand down on his bare chest. He could feel her cheek was moist with tears and her hand was clammy and cold. It took all this efforts to will his arm to wrap around her and kiss the top of her head. The smell of her hair was intoxicating.
As he lay his head back down he brought a word to his lips in response to her plea, "Never." That must have been what she had wanted to hear because her tense body turned to silk beside him and the warmth of her length pressed against his side was a comfort no words could describe. He didn't want to let this sweet night go and as he fought the encroaching oblivion that was sleep, he held her tight to him.
*****
Max quietly entered Logan's room and closed the door behind her. She didn't know what she was planning to do when she got here. At first she just stared at him, laying there perfectly still, a picture of peace. The peace she so desired. After a moment of taking in the calm, she stepped forward and whispered into the night, "Logan?"
His head moved as if automatically toward her voice, but he was still asleep. His serene face was toward her now and as she studied every line of his chiseled features the world fell away. "Logan?" she asked again hoping he would waken and welcome her into his arms. Now his eyes opened lazily but she could see he was not yet fully awake.
"Max?" Her heart nearly stopped. He recognized her. Now what was she gonna do? She couldn't just stand here and absorb the tranquility now that he knew she was here. Max had taken a step forward at his beckon, but caught she herself. What was she doing? Logan was probably still sleeping. He probably only said her name because he was responding in his dream to her voice. What did she think was gonna happen tonight. She should just leave, the streets could be her refuge, her ninja could be her savior. But as she rationalized the night away his voice called out to her again. "Max?"
She could not stop herself, she needed him now, to enfold her in his pure embrace. "Hold me," she said as moved to the edge of bed. Slowly, still unsure, she lifted the covers and slid in between. "Don't change," she gently whispered into his ear, then lay down on his bare chest. Only after doing so did she realize her cheeks were streaked with tears. Logan's warmth was like a soothing fire on her skin drying her tears and evaporating her worries. Max felt him lift his head and kiss her, his arm holding her tight against his body, warding off all her anxieties.
"Never," was his simple response, but it was all she needed to hear because she knew he would not break his word. Now she could relax, she could let herself go. Only in his arms was she free. Under her ear, his heart was pounding with a steady beat. To the rhythm of his heart, so constant and stable just like Logan himself, did she finally give into the dark embrace of sleep.
*****
Zack was eating breakfast and reading the newspaper when Bling came in at the crack of dawn for Logan's early morning work out. "Good morning Zack," he said as he put down the bag with all his gear and went to the closet to pull out the padded physio table.
"Morning," he acknowledged Bling's presence and turned his attentions back to the newspaper.
"Have you seen Logan?"
"Nope."
"Do you know where he is?"
"Probably still sleeping."
"Damn, he's slacking now? He's been improving so quickly with this new regiment."
Zack stared at him blankly. The look on his face showed he was obviously not interested at all. "Whatever," he shrugged his shoulders and picked up the newspaper again.
"Well, clock's tickin'," he said more to the empty room because he knew Zack wouldn't care. He took a few brisk steps to Logan's room. Zack heard Bling open the door and call out to Logan, "Let's go Logan. Rise and… Max?!"
Zack straightened to attention, looking up at the direction of Logan's room, the source of Bling's startled voice. What was Max doing in Logan's room? Of all nights it had to be the one when Zack's true feelings had been strung out before her. It was a blow to his ego and he tried to repress the anger and jealousy. He had just lost his son and Kat to Manticore and now he was losing Max.
Just then she burst out of the hallway in a brisk walk, her clothes still crumpled and her hair disheveled. He watched her come his way hoping that somehow, if she just looked him in the eyes, he could make her change her mind. That with one glance he could become the one into whose arms she would run for shelter. He had been waiting for it all this time, but now she had showed him it would never happen.
When she finally lifted her head she seemed startled that he was watching her, and quickly cast her gaze onto the floor and sheepishly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Had he not had superb vision he would not have noticed her slight blush. Now was one of those times he regretted his genes. Max's pace slowed to almost casual as she crossed the kitchen and opened the fridge. All the while she could feel his intense gaze upon her but she dare not face him for fear of losing herself in that endless loop of confusion. She had made her choice last night, there was no turning back now.
Bling came back into the room wordlessly and continued to set up, a slight smile on his face. It was all Zack could do to not walk over there and smack that smirk off his face, and maybe beat him for good measure. But if he did that Max would surely never forgive him.
"Morning," he said returning his attentions to the newspaper.
"G'Morning." Her reply was timid as she drank her juice at the sink. Not because she was afraid she would spill but because it was only here, directly behind him when she would be safe from his eyes, his sapphire eyes. There was an awkward silence. 'How am I supposed to act around him now?' her mind was racing, 'he doesn't know what happened between Kat and me. But I know things now. How can I just act normal.'
He could sense her body was tense from the awkward situation. But how was he supposed to act now? It didn't matter if he pretended that he didn't know what was happening. He thought it would give him some sort of tactical advantage, but there was no such thing when it came to emotions. All he could do was talk about something else. And he wasted no time bringing out the heavy arsenal.
"Kat left with my son," his voice took on a military style seriousness, devoid of all emotions, to hide his true feelings no doubt. "She is headed back to Manticore."
Max stood in front of him now shock and anger overriding her embarrassment, "You just let her go? I thought you of all people would make her stay."
"What were my options, Max?" His cold, emotionless words stung like a slap across the face. Bling took this moment to step outside and get out of the line of fire. When those two got together one could drown in the tension.
"She could have stayed with us..."
"All in Seattle? Lydecker would find out and would give us no peace," he calmly rationalized away that suggestion.
"Then you could have gone with her to Canada. You could have raised Cole there together."
"What like a normal family? Dropping him off to school? Taking him to the vets to get rabies shots? Come on Max, really. Besides who would take my place? I have guarded you all from the beginning. Who would take my role?" He was on his two feet now, uncomfortable being in such an immobile position.
She would not concede so easily, "I would."
"Would you Max? Would you drop all your friends? Break off all connections to this place? Would you leave Seattle behind and not look back?" He knew the answer already, and she confirmed it with her silence. "Then you would be no good to any of the rest," he paused and took on a more tender tone, slowly approaching her. If she would not return his feelings, she would not have the chance to hate him either. "Mine is a cold and lonely life, Max. It's not for you and I wouldn't wish it on anyone else." This change of state somewhat calmed her fury, and she turned her back admitting defeat.
The silence, again, became unbearable, but now it was Max who took the initiative. "Lydecker is in town."
"I knew already."
Max paused, and let out a breath, "I know where he is." Now it was Zack's who tensed as his mind filled with sadistic images. If Kat was going to return to Manticore, Lydecker would not get the pleasure.
"Logan," the voice was muffled but yes it was his name. He looked up to see a dark silhouette standing in his room.
"Max?" he wasn't really sure if he actually said it aloud or it was only in his mind, but the shadow moved closer to him in response. Or maybe he just willed it to come closer. His mind was too hazy to be sure.
Slowly his groggy mind began to clear and the silhouette before him became a human form. It looked Max, fully clothed, wearing a red tank top and jeans.. What was she doing here? Logan watched her as she stepped forward again and hesitated. He did not know what to say. The words, any words, did not come to his lips easily. This had to be a dream. Why else would she be in his room so late at night? It wasn't real. His mind refused to believe it was real.
"Max?" he threw the question at the shadow, half of him hoping it would flutter away and not taunt him with its beauty, and the other half of him willing it to come closer still.
Again in response it stepped closer and slowly, quietly made it's way to the side of his bed. He desperately tried to regain full consciousness, but he could do nothing to escape this state of limbo between the abyss of sleep and the reality of the world around him.
"Hold me," her soft voice sounded more urgent as if she needed something only he could give. He would not hesitate to pull the stars down from the heavens for her, but she had never asked it of him.
The cool air raised goose bumps on his skin as she lifted the covers of his bed and slid in beside him. "Don't change," she whispered softly into his ear then lay her head and hand down on his bare chest. He could feel her cheek was moist with tears and her hand was clammy and cold. It took all this efforts to will his arm to wrap around her and kiss the top of her head. The smell of her hair was intoxicating.
As he lay his head back down he brought a word to his lips in response to her plea, "Never." That must have been what she had wanted to hear because her tense body turned to silk beside him and the warmth of her length pressed against his side was a comfort no words could describe. He didn't want to let this sweet night go and as he fought the encroaching oblivion that was sleep, he held her tight to him.
*****
Max quietly entered Logan's room and closed the door behind her. She didn't know what she was planning to do when she got here. At first she just stared at him, laying there perfectly still, a picture of peace. The peace she so desired. After a moment of taking in the calm, she stepped forward and whispered into the night, "Logan?"
His head moved as if automatically toward her voice, but he was still asleep. His serene face was toward her now and as she studied every line of his chiseled features the world fell away. "Logan?" she asked again hoping he would waken and welcome her into his arms. Now his eyes opened lazily but she could see he was not yet fully awake.
"Max?" Her heart nearly stopped. He recognized her. Now what was she gonna do? She couldn't just stand here and absorb the tranquility now that he knew she was here. Max had taken a step forward at his beckon, but caught she herself. What was she doing? Logan was probably still sleeping. He probably only said her name because he was responding in his dream to her voice. What did she think was gonna happen tonight. She should just leave, the streets could be her refuge, her ninja could be her savior. But as she rationalized the night away his voice called out to her again. "Max?"
She could not stop herself, she needed him now, to enfold her in his pure embrace. "Hold me," she said as moved to the edge of bed. Slowly, still unsure, she lifted the covers and slid in between. "Don't change," she gently whispered into his ear, then lay down on his bare chest. Only after doing so did she realize her cheeks were streaked with tears. Logan's warmth was like a soothing fire on her skin drying her tears and evaporating her worries. Max felt him lift his head and kiss her, his arm holding her tight against his body, warding off all her anxieties.
"Never," was his simple response, but it was all she needed to hear because she knew he would not break his word. Now she could relax, she could let herself go. Only in his arms was she free. Under her ear, his heart was pounding with a steady beat. To the rhythm of his heart, so constant and stable just like Logan himself, did she finally give into the dark embrace of sleep.
*****
Zack was eating breakfast and reading the newspaper when Bling came in at the crack of dawn for Logan's early morning work out. "Good morning Zack," he said as he put down the bag with all his gear and went to the closet to pull out the padded physio table.
"Morning," he acknowledged Bling's presence and turned his attentions back to the newspaper.
"Have you seen Logan?"
"Nope."
"Do you know where he is?"
"Probably still sleeping."
"Damn, he's slacking now? He's been improving so quickly with this new regiment."
Zack stared at him blankly. The look on his face showed he was obviously not interested at all. "Whatever," he shrugged his shoulders and picked up the newspaper again.
"Well, clock's tickin'," he said more to the empty room because he knew Zack wouldn't care. He took a few brisk steps to Logan's room. Zack heard Bling open the door and call out to Logan, "Let's go Logan. Rise and… Max?!"
Zack straightened to attention, looking up at the direction of Logan's room, the source of Bling's startled voice. What was Max doing in Logan's room? Of all nights it had to be the one when Zack's true feelings had been strung out before her. It was a blow to his ego and he tried to repress the anger and jealousy. He had just lost his son and Kat to Manticore and now he was losing Max.
Just then she burst out of the hallway in a brisk walk, her clothes still crumpled and her hair disheveled. He watched her come his way hoping that somehow, if she just looked him in the eyes, he could make her change her mind. That with one glance he could become the one into whose arms she would run for shelter. He had been waiting for it all this time, but now she had showed him it would never happen.
When she finally lifted her head she seemed startled that he was watching her, and quickly cast her gaze onto the floor and sheepishly tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Had he not had superb vision he would not have noticed her slight blush. Now was one of those times he regretted his genes. Max's pace slowed to almost casual as she crossed the kitchen and opened the fridge. All the while she could feel his intense gaze upon her but she dare not face him for fear of losing herself in that endless loop of confusion. She had made her choice last night, there was no turning back now.
Bling came back into the room wordlessly and continued to set up, a slight smile on his face. It was all Zack could do to not walk over there and smack that smirk off his face, and maybe beat him for good measure. But if he did that Max would surely never forgive him.
"Morning," he said returning his attentions to the newspaper.
"G'Morning." Her reply was timid as she drank her juice at the sink. Not because she was afraid she would spill but because it was only here, directly behind him when she would be safe from his eyes, his sapphire eyes. There was an awkward silence. 'How am I supposed to act around him now?' her mind was racing, 'he doesn't know what happened between Kat and me. But I know things now. How can I just act normal.'
He could sense her body was tense from the awkward situation. But how was he supposed to act now? It didn't matter if he pretended that he didn't know what was happening. He thought it would give him some sort of tactical advantage, but there was no such thing when it came to emotions. All he could do was talk about something else. And he wasted no time bringing out the heavy arsenal.
"Kat left with my son," his voice took on a military style seriousness, devoid of all emotions, to hide his true feelings no doubt. "She is headed back to Manticore."
Max stood in front of him now shock and anger overriding her embarrassment, "You just let her go? I thought you of all people would make her stay."
"What were my options, Max?" His cold, emotionless words stung like a slap across the face. Bling took this moment to step outside and get out of the line of fire. When those two got together one could drown in the tension.
"She could have stayed with us..."
"All in Seattle? Lydecker would find out and would give us no peace," he calmly rationalized away that suggestion.
"Then you could have gone with her to Canada. You could have raised Cole there together."
"What like a normal family? Dropping him off to school? Taking him to the vets to get rabies shots? Come on Max, really. Besides who would take my place? I have guarded you all from the beginning. Who would take my role?" He was on his two feet now, uncomfortable being in such an immobile position.
She would not concede so easily, "I would."
"Would you Max? Would you drop all your friends? Break off all connections to this place? Would you leave Seattle behind and not look back?" He knew the answer already, and she confirmed it with her silence. "Then you would be no good to any of the rest," he paused and took on a more tender tone, slowly approaching her. If she would not return his feelings, she would not have the chance to hate him either. "Mine is a cold and lonely life, Max. It's not for you and I wouldn't wish it on anyone else." This change of state somewhat calmed her fury, and she turned her back admitting defeat.
The silence, again, became unbearable, but now it was Max who took the initiative. "Lydecker is in town."
"I knew already."
Max paused, and let out a breath, "I know where he is." Now it was Zack's who tensed as his mind filled with sadistic images. If Kat was going to return to Manticore, Lydecker would not get the pleasure.